Working Title Films (Pride & Prejudice, Atonement) has recently posted in their website confirming the principal cast for director Joe Wright's upcoming film (currently in pre-production), Anna Karenina starring Keira Knightley, who is reuniting with her former P&P co-star Matthew Macfadyen, which interestingly, they will be playing brother and sister in this film adaptation. Knightley and Macfadyen previously worked together (as Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy) with Wright, who directed them in his very first feature film, Pride & Prejudice, which was released back in 2005 to critical acclaimed (and a worldwide Box office gross of $121+ million) earning Knightley and the P&P film 4 Oscar Nominations (including Best Actress for Miss Knightley), 2 Golden Globe (including Best Actress for KK as well), and 6 BAFTA nominations (including a Carl Foreman Award for the Most Promising Newcomer award for JW).
The now confirmed Anna Karenina cast include Keira and Matthew, of course, along with the rest of previously reported cast such as Jude Law, Aaron Johnson, and Kelly Macdonald to name a few, except for Saoirse Ronan, who was previously rumored (and listed on IMDB too) to be playing Kitty, is excluded in the confirmed cast. Another actress, Alicia Vikander (‘The Seventh Son’), a newcomer is the one confirmed to be playing Kitty instead.
Check out the confirmed cast (with pictures and their characters) of Anna Karenina below...
Keira Knightley is confirmed to play the title role, her third collaboration with Joe Wright having starred in ‘Pride & Prejudice’ and ‘Atonement’. She is joined by Jude Law (‘Sherlock Holmes’, ‘Hugo Cabret’) playing her husband Aleksei Karenin and Aaron Johnson (‘Kick Ass’, ‘Nowhere Boy’) as Count Vronsky. They are supported by Alicia Vikander playing Kitty, Kelly Macdonald (‘No Country For Old Men’, ‘Boardwalk Empire’) playing Dolly, Domhnall Gleeson (Bill Weasley in ‘Harry Potter’) playing Levin, Andrea Riseborough (‘Made In Dagenham’) playing Princess Betsy, Matthew MacFadyen (‘Pride & Prejudice’) playing Oblonsky and Olivia Williams (‘Hanna’) playing his mother Countess Vronsky.
Anna Karenina (2012) Cast
~*~ Confirmed Cast ~*~
Keira Knightley ~ Anna Karenina
Jude Law ~ Aleksei Karenin (Anna's husband)
Aaron Johnson ~ Count Vronsky (Anna's lover)
Matthew Macfadyen ~ Oblonsky (Anna's brother)
Kelly Macdonald ~ Dolly (Oblonky's wife)
Alicia Vikander ~ Kitty (Dolly's younger sister)
Domhnall Gleeson ~ Levin
Andrea Riseborough ~ Princess Betsey
Olivia Williams ~ Countess Vronskaya (Vronsky's mother)
Jude Law ~ Aleksei Karenin (Anna's husband)
Aaron Johnson ~ Count Vronsky (Anna's lover)
Matthew Macfadyen ~ Oblonsky (Anna's brother)
Kelly Macdonald ~ Dolly (Oblonky's wife)
Alicia Vikander ~ Kitty (Dolly's younger sister)
Domhnall Gleeson ~ Levin
Andrea Riseborough ~ Princess Betsey
Olivia Williams ~ Countess Vronskaya (Vronsky's mother)
Speaking of AK, someone tweeted this Anna Karenina Script cover page! Also, Keira was asked about her upcoming Anna movie and role in her new Marie Claire Interview (via Sweet-Keira). Here's the AK mention part...
You’re doing another period movie, Anna Karenina, with director Joe Wright. What attracts you to period characters?It’s not the fact that they are period; it’s the great stories. And Tolstoy – you can’t say no to that if someone offers it to you.
Anna Karenina will start filming next month (possibly early to mid September) and is slated for a 2012 release.
